New Year declutter

[Pinkvici22]

We have far too much stuff…

The loft is rammed with stuff we need to get rid of and my wardrobe is overflowing! How do people find the time to do this? What’s your top tips?! I’m always afraid I’ll regret getting rid of things!

I’ve made a start - cleared out the toy box and book shelves - what’s the best way to get rid of things? Charity shops? Is it worth selling toys/books? Everything is in excellent condition.

Little and often. I limit myself to 1 cupboard or shelf at a time, and no more than 15 minutes.

Today I cleared one kitchen cupboard and have a box of glasses and cups to go to the charity shop and threw the chipped/unusable ones in the bin. Took me 10 minutes.

I would tackle it bit by bit, and do it regularly. I’m constantly decluttering!

Some charity shops round me have stopped taking certain things (books?!) and limit donations to 4 bags a day. Also your car boot/hands have a limit of stuff you can clear out! So take it slow and tackle a room/storage unit/cupboard at a time.

I don’t bother selling stuff anymore, too much hassle and people don’t turn up and I end up still having to do a charity shop run after trying a car boot etc, so I take everything to charity shops.

Small chunks regularly works for me. I just gave away a bag of clothes in a local free items FB group and someone came to collect them. People seem to always get takers for good quality stuff there.

I literally just booked the day and got in the loft.

all went to charity. Nobody is buying anything these days and I considered it my charitable contribution. Lots went in the bin too. if you haven’t seen it for the last year, you don’t need it.

Thanks for the tips! Need to get down my local charity shop I think to check what they take.

we have work to do in the house also so I guess it’s fitting it all in!

Little and often works well for me.

Also I read Marie Kondo’s books a few years ago, and while I haven’t adopted her philosophy full scale, one idea of hers I did find very helpful was decluttering by categories - so you get everything that fits one category together in one place, whether it’s socks, boots, mugs, non-fiction books etc.
Then it’s easier to see how much you’ve got and make decisions about which ones you’re going to keep.

As others have said start small or it can be overwhelming
Olio is good for giving things away, people tend to be polite and turn up unlike FB Marketplace. Vinted good for clothes, you don’t make much but it’s very quick and easy to list things

Thanks for the replies. I haven’t heard of Olio - can you find out if it’s used in your area?

I was thinking of putting some of the good toys on Instagram in case anyone wanted them. Also have some good (complete) Lego sets.

I’m pretty sure Olio is National, I’m West Yorkshire and it’s used a lot here
Maybe eBay is worth a look for the Lego as well

If you decide to sell stuff, don't get stuck in the rut of holding onto it indefinitely hoping to sell. I set myself a week or two to sell, if it doesn't sell, then a week max on a freecycle site, then charity shop.

We also do little and often. I do a box from the attic a week and then deal with that box in the week. So charity shop stuff goes that week, even if it's just one item. Same for tip or giving away. Selling stuff goes on the selling site that week too. Stuff to keep is reboxed appropriately or put away in the house. Deal with the whole box, next week a new box. You'll get through 52 boxes in a year, whilst not piling it up in the rest of your house.

Made a good start!

Yesterday - kitchen corner cupboards

Today - main bathroom cupboards and the airing cupboard. Also planning to clean the dishwasher and fridge (before the healthy food shop arrives!)

Tomorrow hoping to tackle the en-suite bathroom cupboard and possibly under the stairs (although that’s a mammoth task…)

Thanks for the tips!

Joining with gusto.

My best advice is decide on the route out of the house before you even start. As in clear the boot and decide what day you can stop at the chazza and unload. Therefore you have a window of x days to fill the bags etc

Also have some good (complete) Lego sets

Lego always sells well on eBay and for good money. list with recorded delivery postage though so people can’t claim it hasn’t arrived.

I’ve given a few things away on Olio before now but am sticking to charity shops from now on. I just can’t be doing with the multiple messages from numerous people who then just stop responding when you’ve said ‘yes you can collect Thursday, I will be in all day, just let me know what time you’d like to come’. It’s just too much hard work.

Just checking in…

Managed the en-suite, a basket full of hair products and gave the dishwasher a deep clean.

Hoping to tackle the Lego sets tomorrow!

Still at it!

Today…complete deep clean and sort out of the fridge where I found some embarrassingly old sauces and a good clean of the summer house

Also at it! Did my room today and donating an embarrassing amount of clothes!! Really made me think about what I’m buying. Hoping by the end of January to of done a proper declutter! Tomorrow can be the bathroom!

Mumofonegirl1 - your whole room?! I’m impressed.

I’m definitely putting off my wardrobes and under the stairs. I think they have to be weekend jobs…little steps!